Detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has requested the transfer of his trial to the South-East if no other judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja is willing to take over the case from Justice Binta Nyako.
Kanu’s request was revealed in a statement by his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, on Wednesday after a routine visit to him at the DSS facility in Abuja.
This comes after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case on September 24, 2024, following Kanu’s expressed lack of confidence in her. However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, later reassigned the case to her for continuation.
Kanu has strongly objected to Justice Nyako’s return to the case, arguing that it compromises judicial integrity. Ejimakor stated that Kanu has directed his legal team to ensure she does not preside over his trial.
“The central issue arising at today’s visitation is the upcoming court date for the continuation of MNK’s case.
“Due to its constitutional implications, Onyendu instructed the legal team to take certain prompt steps to ensure that his case is not handled by the same Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who had withdrawn from the case by virtue of the order of recusal entered on 24th September 2024,” Ejimakor said in the statement.
Kanu’s legal team also emphasised the importance of appointing a new judge and suggested moving the trial to a Federal High Court in the South-East where the alleged offences were said to have occurred.
“If no other judge in Abuja is willing to handle the case, the Chief Judge is free to transfer the case to Umuahia, Awka, Enugu, Asaba, Port Harcourt, or any other Federal High Court within the former Eastern Nigeria, where the alleged offenses were said to have occurred or had their impact,” the statement read.
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